FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My in-person fee is $75/hr, and $60/hr for virtual consultations. If I bring someone with me (to help clean out a garage, for example) they bill out at $30/hour. I offer a prepaid block of 15 hours for $1000 - most full homes or garages take at least 15 hours. For seniors actively downsizing and moving, I offer a package of 25 hours for $1500 (space planning is extra).
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
You call. We meet. You show me around. I listen. You ask if this is the worst I’ve ever seen. I assure you it isn’t. We develop a rapport. We will be working together for many hours, so you need to know who I am and feel comfortable with my energy. I'm Not a Fairy Godmother I am not a fairy godmother who waves a wand - you and I are working alongside each other, going through your things. I ask a lot of questions to get to know how you live because every client is different, and I don’t impose cookie-cutter solutions. My goal is to help you arrange your home and your life in such a way that works with you, instead of against you. Get Ready to Work When you are ready to work, you book me, and we determine a mutually convenient time to schedule our first session. Your homework is to have boxes and laundry baskets available to help us sort. If you want to start sorting before I get there, go for it! One Decision at a Time I am not Marie Kondo. I do not make you throw all the clothes onto the bed (how overwhelming!) You don’t have to thank each thing you are letting go of. We tackle one space (rack, shelf, cabinet, drawer, surface) at a time, sorting what to toss, keep, donate or sell. But we only make one decision at a time, so you don't stall and run out of brainpower. Is it useful to anyone? (Toss if not.) Is it useful to me? (Let go if not). Is it worth my time to sell it? (Donate if not.) Use the Two-Second Rule If you can't decide in two seconds, we leave it and go on to the next item. After a day of making decisions, you get better at it, and you'll figure out what to do with everything after you build your decision-making muscles. That's why we do the easy rooms first, like the kitchen and the bathroom. Then, after we declutter, we organize what's left. Form Follows Function, and Pretty Comes Later Don’t worry about buying plastic storage bins, shoe boxes and pretty storage containers yet until we know what we are keeping and how we are storing it. Until then, we use what we have. Form follows function, and not until we determine what each space will be used for and what we are keeping, can we then put things away in places that make sense to you, and know what size containers we need to keep things organized. The fancy labeling and pretty containers, if you want them, come last. How Much Time Will It Take? Organizing is more effective in sessions of 4-5 hours each. That gives you enough time to tackle a space, purge, organize, and dispose of whatever is not staying. You might be able to do a kitchen or a bathroom in a few hours, but most bedrooms or home offices take at least 5 hours. Most garages take at least 10 hours, while whole homes take at least 20 hours. Follow Through If you don’t build in time to load the car with donations, take the trash out, list things for sale, put away things that belong in a different room, label the containers, call the handyman, and do whatever it takes to finish a space, chances are you will never see it to completion. Shorter Sessions If You Need Them If you are ADHD and/or autistic, or you don’t have four hours available at a time, you can schedule an organizing session for a shorter time, but anything less than two hours is not recommended. We try to schedule the next session before the first one is over. I Can Help Take Things Away I can schedule a pickup for donations or take them directly to a donation center. I can also take them with me and list them for free on Facebook Marketplace. If you want to sell items, you can pay me for my time to list them on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or consignment clothing websites like Poshmark, Depop or TheRealReal. I can also arrange an estate sale or help you get ready for a yard sale.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated magna cum laude from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a concentration in Management, and a minor in Theater Arts. My early career in arts management gave me experience in producing shows, special events, fundraisers, and festivals. I later worked in San Francisco, San Jose, New York City, and Los Angeles in marketing and sales in a variety of industries. Since moving to Los Angeles 30+ years ago, I can add teacher, interior design assistant, closet designer, , senior activities assistant, and costumed character at Universal Studios Hollywood to my resume. Every one of my professional experiences, in addition to my experience parenting two neurodivergent children, has helped me develop the creativity and skills to be an effective professional organizer.